GHC 18 Featured Speaker: Andrea Sreshta

GHC 18 Featured Speaker: Andrea Sreshta

After the 2010 Haiti earthquake struck, more than a million people were left homeless and forced to live in crowded tent cities with no electricity. These tent cities could become unsafe at night, especially for women and young children.

« We wanted to put our skills to work designing something that would help aid those affected by this disaster, » said Andrea Sreshta. She and Anna Stork, who were design students at the time, came up with the idea for a portable solar light to help those in Haiti as well as others affected by natural disasters. They filed a utility patent in 2011, and were eager to start their own company.

« But, » as Andrea pointed out, « we were novices when it came to starting and running a business. »

Launching a company was a considerable risk, but one that Andrea was determined to take. « My parents have always supported my dreams as an inventor and entrepreneur, » she said. « They sacrificed a lot of their time to help our startup grow. » Encouraged by her parents and inspired to help others, Andrea worked with Anna to found a new company: LuminAID.

LuminAID’s Global Impact

Andrea and Anna were able to get investors to support their company, but they both knew it would take more than just money to make their business successful. « Figuring out how to adapt our skills as designers to a business-related endeavor has been a continuous challenge, » Andrea admitted. « However, we’ve learned a lot along the way, which has helped us to continue to grow LuminAID.

« Learning new things will not only set you apart, » she advised, « but it will also allow you to continue to accomplish new things you never thought possible. »

LuminAID solar lights are now used in more than 100 countries, a feat that Andrea calls her biggest accomplishment to date. « It means a lot to me that people I will likely never meet in countries I will likely never have the chance to visit are using LuminAID lights and phone chargers to better their own lives. »

Lighting the Way

Although Andrea found success in LuminAID, many women entrepreneurs struggle to find opportunities to launch their startups and products. « Only 8% of patents name a lead female inventor, » Andrea pointed out, a statistic she wants to improve. Andrea will be a featured speaker 2018 Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC 18), and hopes her story will inspire other young women to start their own businesses.

« I truly believe that you can’t be what you can’t see, » she said. « Anna and I have had the good fortune to meet a lot of successful female inventors and business owners in our time since starting LuminAID. We have learned a lot from the examples set forth before us, and it has helped us understand our own potential.

« I am proud of our issued utility patent for inflatable solar lighting technology, » she continued. « Anna and I hope to set an example for future female inventors. »

 

@LuminAidLab Co-founder Andrea Sreshta is a featured speaker at #GHC18. Learn how she’s providing solar powered  light across the globe on Thursday, September 27 at 12 p.m. Register for this session now.

Learn more about our featured and keynote speakers.

 

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